Author's Note: CHAPTER OF THE MUSHY FAMILY VARIETY! Hope you like! WAHOO I AM OFF FROM WORK TOMORROW! YA LABOR DAY! Love you al! Read and Review!
-Jennifer K.
The paramedics arrived to Peter Carnazza and immediately set to work getting him prepped to go to the hospital. Dee and Ryo meanwhile stood with the medical examiner as he checked out Vinnie. He sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry guys." He said. "Boy got a bullet right into the jugular and died instantly."
"Fuck." Ryo murmured as Dee squeezed his shoulder. In his mind he was saying Hail Mary's over and over again thankful that Ryo had escaped being shot.
Ryo leaned down to Vinnie as the medical team lifted him onto a gurney.
"You did good Vinnie...really good." He whispered to the deceased youth. "We're sorry we didn't get to you soon enough."
The medical examiner zippered him up in the black body bag and finished strapping him to the gurney. Then they wheeled him to the Coroner Van.
Ryo sighed and dropped his eyes.
"At least he is somewhere he won't get hurt anymore Ryo." Dee said.
"We should have gotten to him sooner." Ryo whispered.
"That asshole was quick." Dee said. "But not quick enough. We got him Ryo and we will avenge Vin's death I promise you."
Just then Peter Carnazza wheeled by being taken to the ambulance.
"Stupid pigs." He uttered again. "At least I got that scum faced brat."
That did it.
Ryo ran after the gurney and grabbed Carnazza by his shirt.
"Listen you good for nothing piece of shit!" He yelled. "That scum faced brat you so nicely put it was a tough kid and he did something not a lot of people could do! But he was still a child and anyone who has the gall to kill a child is nothing but a heartless mother fucker! And that's YOU!"
Ryo took a breath as Dee approached him from behind.
"Okay Ryo...calm down." Dee said, but Ryo didn't pay attention.
You're going to pay for Mr. Lawston's death and the deaths of those children your little cocaine ring poisoned." Ryo spat. "Mark my words the next time you see my face it will be behind a glass window while a needle is being put into your arm!"
Dee's eyes widened as he heard his husband spew words of hate.
"Heh...try it Detective. You may pin the brat's death on me, but you got nothing on those coke crimes, you have no proof!" Carnazza yelled as the paramedics tried to hold him down and unhook Ryo from him.
"We'll find it you fuck." Dee said as he pulled Ryo away from him. "And when we do, we'll make sure you pay dearly for each of those lives you stole!"
Carnazza just laughed as he was wheeled to the ambulance. Ryo was breathing hard as Dee held him.
"Tomorrow." Ryo breathed. "Tomorrow we find the source of his cocaine ring. It's gotta be someone in that company. It always is, someone is bound to know."
"You got it." Dee said. "Don't worry babe, we'll get him. Either way he's going down."
Ryo sighed tiredly. He was beat.
"We'll file the report in the morning." He said. "Right now...I need to see my kids."
Dee smiled softly.
"Okay."
They drove home in silence. It was already way past midnight. When they entered their apartment they were greeted with an exhausted Carol and Bikky trying to calm Grace down. They had agreed to babysit Grace instead of her going to Mother's because it was a Friday night while Ryo and Dee were doing the sting operation. But by the looks of it, it was wearing them down.
"Hey guys." Carol said as she sat up on the couch. "I think it's the colic again or she missed you. She's been like that all night."
Bikky was bouncing the little girl in his arms.
"She ate okay and we gave her a bath and made sure her diaper was clean, but she's still upset. I was tempted to call you."
Ryo smiled gently as he took off his coat. He immediately approached Bikky and Grace and pulled them into a tight hug.
"Whoa Ryo." Bikky said. "You okay dude!"
"Rough night kids." Dee said as put their things away. "Our helper in the sting operation got shot by the perp. He wasn't that much older than you Carol."
"No shit." Bikky whispered as Ryo gently took Grace from him. He sighed as he held the crying babe.
"My poor little girl." He whispered. Then he looked down at his son. The young boy with the café au lait skin and blonde locks. Ryo's heart fell...could Bikky had suffered the same life as Vincent if his father hadn't been killed or if ACS took him. What about Grace, was she bound for the same fate if he and Dee weren't looking to adopt her?
He took Bikky in his arms once again.
"I just want you to know B." Ryo said. "I am really very proud of you. Tonight we lost a kid who didn't have a chance to grow up. No one to love him or take care of him. I promise you that I will never ever let that happen to you or Grace. You're mine and Dee's kids and we love you. Vinnie didn't have anyone and he trusted someone who hurt him terribly. I won't let that happen to you. Dee and me, we are your dad's and we promise that whenever you need us, we will be there no matter what. You're our son and hopefully Grace will be our daughter and we will protect you...always."
Bikky hugged Ryo back. He could feel his dad tremble slightly.
"I know you will dad." He said. "You already do and yeah perv face does what he can."
Dee rolled his eyes, but Ryo chuckled. He looked down at Grace who had now FINALLY calmed down and was looking around.
"I was right." Carol said as she stood up and stretched. "She just missed you guys!"
Ryo smiled and kissed Grace on the forehead.
"I mean what I say though guys and the same goes for you Carol. No matter what, you two come to us if you ever have a problem. Dee and I will be more than willing to help."
"As long as it involves kicking the simian's butt!" Dee said with smirk as he kneeled down to join his little family.
"Not if I kick yours first queer eye!" Bikky argued.
Ryo and Carol watched as Dee and Bikky began to wrestle. Grace meanwhile was smiling and cooing at the sight.
"Well looks like everything is all better now with Grace." Ryo said as he held the baby. "I think I am going to try putting her down. Carol you're welcome to stay if you don't mind the couch?"
"Not a problem Ryo!" She said with a smile. "But I need a snack."
She hopped into the kitchen while Dee and Bikky continued to swear and try to pin the other down.
Ryo meanwhile walked into the nursery with Grace and shut the door slightly to quiet some of the noise emitting from the living room turned on the dim light. He held her close and gently began to hum. His heart was heavy though for the loss of not just Vinnie, but for Angel, Lisa for losing her boyfriend and now her father, and those teens that had died. He looked down at his little girl as she began snoozing in his arms.
"I meant what I said Grace." He said as he walked around the nursery. "Dee and I love you with all our hearts and want to keep you safe and protected. You, Bikky, and Carol are the most precious and delicate things in our lives and I will give life and limb for all of you if I have to."
He put her gently down in her crib. He then leaned on the bars with his chin resting on his knuckles.
"I don't know what the future holds my sweet one." He said as he watched her sleep. "I wish I did so I knew in advance how I can keep bad things from happening, like tonight. God I wish we could have saved Vinnie. He had a rough life, but he had a chance to get past it. But at least maybe I do have the chance with you and Bikky. Heh...you know when I found you, that was the biggest surprise of my life, next to finding out I loved Dee."
He smiled as the baby slept.
"But those are things I wouldn't change for the world. You know, the only things that I would want to make different is preventing my parents and Dee's father Jess from being killed. And Arnon too since he and Dee were best friends. I know that they would love to see you and Bikky. I bet they would hold you for hours and spoil you two rotten and listen to all of Bikky's stories and take you two places. They would love having you two as grandchildren and I bet Arnon would make a great godfather."
Ryo sniffled a little as he thought about his parents.
"Ah Grace." He said. "There were days I missed them so much that it hurt so bad I didn't think I was going to make it. I hated holidays and my birthday and when their anniversary came up god I would sit and cry like there was no tomorrow. They were such loving people and they took such good care of me. I knew a lot of kids like Vinnie who didn't get that love. I was one of the lucky ones I guess. And I only hope I am doing the same for you and Bikky because God knows after tonight I'm dead scared."
"Good I'm not the only one then." Ryo turned and Dee was standing in the doorway.
"Dee." Ryo whispered.
Dee said nothing as he walked over to his husband and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Ryo buried his face into Dee's chest.
"I got monkey brat pinned so I released him and went to go see Carol in the kitchen. So I thought I'd check up on you and squirt."
Ryo said nothing as he clung to his husband.
"And I heard everything and I know how you feel." He said. "There were days I missed Jess so bad all I wanted to do was just go out and cause hell. He was the only father I had and he was taken from me. I would cry sometimes too during the holidays."
"Sometimes I just wish they were here." Ryo whispered. "Just...to let us know that we are doing everything right. That us being together...having Bikky...and now Grace...that everything is going to be okay. I know I'm all grown up and have to face it like a man...but still."
"You want your mom and dad." Dee said tilting Ryo's chin. "Hey there are days when I feel like I really need Jess even more then Penguin sometimes. There are things Jess knew that she didn't as tough as she is. Everyday doesn't pass with me feeling a pang of guilt that he's not here physically anymore."
"I'm just scared Dee." Ryo answered. "I want my children protected and loved. I don't want them to suffer the same fate as Vinnie."
"And they won't!" Dee said. "You're a terrific father Ryo Maclean Laytner. Bikky is growing up right and Grace will too. They are going to face crap, that's the way the world works. But they are going to make it you know why?"
"Why?" Ryo asked as he stared deeply into Dee's eyes.
"Because they are your kids." Dee said. "You took in a full blown street kid and turned him into a strong, levelheaded young man as annoying he can be. And now you are working on taking in a little girl who was going to die had you not found her. A little girl who is now healthy and happy. You're doing a great job...Daddy Ryo."
Ryo smiled at the words "Daddy Ryo."
"That's because I have you with me Papa Dee." He said. "Remember I married you, my children are also yours. You have helped Bikky in more ways then one and now you are doing the same for Grace. I am damn lucky to have you as my husband."
Dee grinned and took his husband's left hand that held his glittering engagement ring and wedding band.
"And you have no idea how glad I am that you're mine." Dee said kissing his husband's hand. "I love you with all my heart Ryo, and I love our kids, well when Bikky isn't being his regular self. We're a family Ryo and we are going to raise these kids right and we are. They won't turn out like Vinnie, I will die before I let that happen. I promise you, our kids are going to turn out alright."
Ryo stared at his husband in awe and then gently stood on his toes and gave Dee a soft passionate kiss. He threw his arms around Dee's neck as Dee wrapped his arms around Ryo's back. It was a kiss of pure love and reassurance. A kiss they so desperately needed.
"I love you Dee." Ryo whispered as he broke the kiss.
"I love you too Ryo." He took Ryo's hand. "Come on, let's go to bed."
Ryo smiled.
"Just one second." He turned back to the sleeping Grace, leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead once more.
"I love you my little angel." He said with a whisper as he gave her cheek a stroke. Dee smiled and took his turn, leaning in and kissing her cheek.
"Night night my little Gracie!" He said with a smile as he caressed her soft head. With that he took Ryo's hand and the two walked out of the nursery. Carol was now already positioned on the couch and fast asleep exhausted from the long night of baby cries. Dee took an extra blanket and wrapped it around her as Ryo went to check on Bikky. The blonde boy was cuddled in his bed also dead asleep. Ryo smiled and made sure he was well tucked in. He then ruffled his son's hair a bit before also placing a small kiss on his forehead.
"Sleep well Bikky, I love you and I am really proud of you." He said. "I always knew you were someone special.
Ryo walked out of the room and gently closed the door.
Bikky cracked an eye open and smiled.
"You too Ryo." He whispered before yawning and falling right back to sleep.
